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GateHouse News Service National Budget For 1/1/08 and 1/2/08 editions
GateHouse News Service National Budget
For 1/1/08 and 1/2/08 editions
Here are the top national stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/. Please submit stories below no later than 6 pm local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly.
NOTE: Jean Hodges is on vacation this week. Contact Michael Toeset – (708) 785-4355, (630) 835-8870, firstname.lastname@example.com – or Katie Anderson Bartholomew (nights) – 630-956-2598, firstname.lastname@example.com
LIFESTYLE PAGES: GateHouse News Service will begin offering weekly pages on these topics: Health, Food, Home, NASCAR (during the season) and Travel. We begin today with Health and Food. See links under Lifestyles below.
COLLEGE BOWLS: We'll offer coverage of the Rose Bowl and the National Championship game, as well as a column from the Sugar Bowl. Budgets below.
PRIMARY DECISION MAKERS: Look at how Iowa and New Hampshire match up to America, in all kinds of demographics. FITZPATRICK
ART: pics of Iowa (by Rockford), New Hampshire (by Patriot Ledger) folks; video
WITH: numbers-based graphic, showing census comparisons (zoned for Illinois, Mass., NY, Missouri and Ohio)
BREAKOUT: What is a caucus?
RUN DATE: Before Jan. 3 (Iowa caucuses)
END-OF-YEAR CONTENT: You'll find an end-of-year budget with links to stories such as the top weird stories, top movies, top music, highlights from "American Idol" and more. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/homepage/x805331509 Lifestyles (Tuesday is Health, Wednesday is Food) ******begin LIFESTYLE PAGES****** PAGE SCHEDULE: The schedule and explainer for the new Lifestyle pages is here: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x603828685 INTRODUCING THE HEALTH PAGE: The first of the Lifestyles pages from GHNS is posted here: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x603829411. INTRODUCING THE FOOD PAGE: The Food page is posted here: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1059346647 ******end LIFESTYLE PAGES****** ******begin RAILS****** NOTE: The Health, Food, Home&Garden and Travel rails are incorporated in the prepared pages (see above). We still will move the rails as before. HEALTH WATCH: Weekly health rail, with items on terriers "helping" fight IPF in humans, common hangover myths and more. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x1059345450 FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Weekly food and drink rail, this week with a feature on the return of absinthe. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1295923818 HOME HELP: Weekly home rail, with tips on how to remove candle wax from your carpet, an alternative to flimsy shower racks and more. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/home_and_garden/x603829307 ******end RAILS****** GET PUBLISHED: Got a book in your head? Get it published. Here's how. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/x469065597 SNACK MAN: Video: Snack man finds success is in the bag. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1925651825 OH, CLEMENTINES: Sweet and easy to peel, clementines flavor flourless cake. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1295922652 BOILING POINT: Jim Hillibish column: Pop a bottle of homemade ginger ale. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1059345027 KID FOOD: What's for lunch? Prepackaged foods aren't great for kids' health. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x1295923411 STUDENT SUPPORT: Young teacher with cancer finds support in students. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x1059346155 YOUNG & DEPRESSED: Depression not limited to adults; adolescents also affected. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x531356552 KID SICK: Avoid parental panic when fevers climb. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x1151534668 CERVICAL CANCER: January puts the spotlight on cervical cancer/HPV. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/health/x1151535973 Opinions NEW YEAR'S CARTOONS: A selection of editorial cartoons and illustrations related to the New Year. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/cartoons/holiday_cartoons/x546803336 TOM MARTIN: Election: Issues are important, but most of us simply aren't experts on policy. We are, however, good at reading people. We do it daily. Some of us are better than others, but we all learn to pick up signs, visual and verbal, that help us assess a person. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/tom_martin/x1151535653 LORETTA LAROCHE: A little bit of gratitude can make a big difference. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/columnists/x531356715 RICK HOLMES: The best books of the year (that we've read). http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/x1295923385 DEIRDRE REILLY: Moms can be Guitar Heroes, too. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/x469065763 Sports NADEL: Lovie Smith's "narrow defeat argument" is silly because the Bears had plenty of narrow victories, too. As soon as the Bears realize they were 7-9 because they deserved to be 7-9, they'll be able to address their many problems. Early evening / Mike Nadel, Sports Columnists -Note: Nadel will be on vacation the rest of this week. CRAIG MUDER: Resolutions can make 2008 a great sports year. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/columns/x1151535711 SUGAR BOWL COLUMN: (Tuesday for Wednesday), Todd Porter, Canton. / College Sports and Sports ROSE BOWL SPECIAL: LIVES FILLED WITH ROSES
Package on Illinois' first appearance in the Rose Bowl in 1947 in lead-up to the present-day team's appearance on New Year's Day.
MAIN STORY: How Mr. Illini inspired the 1947 conference championship team of WWII veterans mixed with younger.
WITH: Vignettes on several players from the 1947 team, who provide personal insight into the meaning of the game, the return from World War II and a life full of memories.
BREAKOUTS: List of Illinois' appearances in Rose Bowl, 1947 box score and Illinois' results from that season.
ART: photos and video.
Preliminary Rose Bowl budget
GateHouse News Service reporter John Supinie will be on the scene in Los Angeles covering the practices and press conferences leading up to the Rose Bowl game between Illinois and USC on Jan. 1. He will file daily reports and shoot video. Here's a preliminary outline for his stay in Los Angeles. (Topics may change. Updates daily on GateHouse News Service budget.)
For Tuesday:
Game preview. Preview capsule. Sidebar or notes.
For Wednesday:
Game story. Report card. Sidebar/notes.
For Thursday:
Illinois season year-ender and a look to next season.
Jan. 1
REDEMPTION: Jim Tressel says Ohio State is not heading to New Orleans for redemption, but actions are speaking louder than words and Ohio State players admit they're not only playing for this year, but last as well. CANTON
Jan. 2
TODD PORTER COLUMN: Marcus Freeman and growing up on and off the field. The birth of his first child, Freeman said, had nothing to do with his production this year. The former Parade All American turned himself into an elite college football linebacker by studying and working at it. CANTON
Jan. 3 From New Orleans TBD Main ... Column ... notes
Jan. 4 From New Orleans TBD Main ... Column ... notes
Jan. 5 From New Orleans TBD Main ... Column ... Notes
Features will include
Kirk Barton has grown up from a shy kid in a suburb of Canton to a media darling at Ohio State. Barton, a co-captain, has been a go-to guy for Head Coach Jim Tressel. "If you'd have asked me a year ago if I'd missed him, I would have said no," Tressel said.
Possible Nadar Abdallah feature who grew up in New Orleans and had family affected by Katrina
• Mike Popovich will have a feature story on QB Todd Boeckman, to run TBD when it fits our budget ... possibly on game day.
• Josh Weir will be sending color and atmosphere stories from New Orleans starting Jan. 4. He also will be shooting video of fans, scenes, parties, etc., for use on Web sites.
• We will release what for us will be a 10-page preview section for publication Monday, Jan. 7. Four stories, matchups and other tidbits to be included. News DOGFIGHTING: Animals evidence of dogfighting's toll. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/x546805106
with: Brutal training teaches dogs how to fight, experts say. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/x1151535658
with: Guard dogs protect owners but pose risks. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/x1925651849 VIETNAM NEW YEAR: Veteran remembers New Year's Eve in Vietnam. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/x1925651829 BB GUN RAMPAGE: 130 cars in Boston area hit in BB gun spree: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/east/massachusetts/x603829433


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Bake the Book: Old School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned To Cook
Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli is quick to note that she doesn't possess the old-world pedigree her name implies. And that's just fine. The power of her mother's and father's passion for food and its inherent rituals was enough to instill in her a respect and curiosity that started in the home and spilled into some of the best kitchens in the world.
Old School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned To Cook is the tangible product of a lifetime of experiments, effort, and discovery. From cutting her teeth under chef Larry Forgione, to Guy Savoy and Daniel Boulud's kitchens, to teaching at the Culinary Institute, and running the show at Butter, chef Guarnaschelli has played the role of student and teacher, consumer and chef.
And it shows. Owing to her varied adventures in food, the book is full of hard-won information delivered confidently and without pause. Sections are divided by food type and bordered by stories that explain the philosophy behind the recipes. An example: "Dessert: It's Never About Hunger" is the kind of chapter title that makes the true sweets lover smirk conspiratorially, sensing a fellow.
This week, we're starting with Raspberry Doughnuts with Vanilla Dipping Sauce and Indian Pudding. The former born of multiple efforts to recreate the beignets at Butter, and the latter straight from her mother's kitchen on a fall afternoon. That, in essence, is Old School Comfort Food: venerating the old that allowed for the new.
Win A Copy!
Thanks to the generous folks over at Clarkson Potter, we are giving away five (5) copies of Old School Comfort Food this week.
All you have to do is tell us your comfort food go-to in the comments section below.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lightweight support is the name of the game with third entry in ASICS' ever-popular GT series, but despite being the lightest GT-2000 ASICS have ever produced, the GT-2000 3 still boasts peerless ride quality and supreme underfoot cushioning.
A new dual-layered FLUIDRIDE midsole offers 20% more bounce back with a 15% reduction in weight on the previous model, while ASICS' renowned DYNAMIC DUOMAX SYSTEM delivers comfortable, lightweight support so OVERPRONATORS can enjoy miles and miles of well-guided performance.
Much of the shoe's weight saving can be attributed to a revised Heel Clutching System, which combines with a breathable mesh upper to provide step-in comfort and a secure fit you can always rely on.
Seamless design through the upper also means friction and foot irritation are a thing of the past, while independently placed eyelets disperse lace tension for enhanced comfort and a fully-customizable fitting environment. The inclusion of a ComforDRY sockliner also boosts interior cushioning and counteracts micro-bacterial build up, which helps reduce odour and promotes a cooler, drier, healthier inner.
Other benefits include an updated Guidance Line® and Guidance Trusstic System®, which complement each other superbly to enhance the wearer's running gait, improve torsional rigidity, and encourage smoother transitions from heel-to-toe.
Unsurprisingly, the GT-2000 3 still retains ASICS' signature GEL® Cushioning at the heel and forefoot for maximum shock absorption throughout the gait cycle, while a highly durable rubber outsole ensures exceptional underfoot flexibility.
And as endorsements go, a Seal of Acceptance from the AMERICAN PODIATIRC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION is pretty impressive.
Score the ultimate ride the GT-2000 3
Impact Guidance System (I.G.S®) - ASICS® design philosophy that employs linked componentry to enhance the foot's natural gait from heel strike to toe-off.
FluidRide® - FluidRide® provides the ultimate combination of bounce back and cushioning properties with reduced weight and exceptional durability.
Dynamic DuoMax® Support System - This evolution of DuoMax® system enhances stability and support, with reduced weight and increased platform support.
Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL® Cushioning Systems - Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off phases, and allows movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle.
Guidance Trusstic System® - This Trusstic System® integrates Guidance Line® construction for enhanced gait efficiency while providing midfoot structural integrity.
Heel Clutching System™ - Exoskeletal heel counter provides improved support and creates improved heel fitting environment.
Discrete Eyelets - Independently placed eyelets disburse lace tension, creating a customized fitting environment and enhanced upper comfort.
ComforDry™ Sockliner - Provides cushioning performance and anti-odor properties for a cooler, drier, healthier environment.
Gender-Specific CushioningWomen's models feature a lower-density top layer in the midsole, allowing female athletes to better enjoy the benefits of midsole compression.


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Villawood East Public School students travel back in time
22 November 2012
Students from Villawood East PS became historical detectives for a day when they visited the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney to learn more about ancient civilizations. It was Villawood East PS' first visit to the Nicholson Museum since becoming a Compass partner school this year. The Nicholson Museum is home to the largest collection of antiquities in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, so there are plenty of fascinating artefacts for students to explore.
Students travelled back in time to find out more about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, including the mummification rituals of the Egyptians. They also had a chance to see a special LEGO display depicting the Colosseum! The display is the largest ever LEGO model of Rome's famous Colosseum, and is constructed from a quarter of a million bricks.
That's not the end of it - Compass volunteers visited the school the next week to spend an hour of their school day talking about Ancient Egyptian mythology and the profession of archaeology for the Museum post-lesson. Volunteers Hannah, Anna, Priscilla and Stephanie delivered the one-hour lesson covering topics including the journey to the afterlife and Egyptian amulets. Volunteers were very impressed by how much the students had remembered from their visit, as well as their curiosity to know more.
The post-lesson was delivered as part of Compass' 3-Phase Program, an enriched learning program that started last year. The core of the program is an excursion for students to visit a University of Sydney museum or event, and their experiences during this visit are consolidated during a teacher-led pre-lesson and the volunteer-led post-lesson. There is a particular emphasis throughout the program on drawing connections to higher education. Compass volunteers are able to deliver post-lessons through the Classroom Activity Facilitators volunteer program.
Thanks to Villawood East Public School for welcoming our volunteers so warmly, and thanks to Hannah, Anna, Priscilla and Stephanie for doing a great job on the day. For more information about becoming a Compass volunteer, please visit our website.


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"Conrad and I are both native Montanans. An avid hunter since childhood, Conrad has hunted with Brittanys for over 20 years. I hunt as well and having been raised on a ranch use my experience in the daily care of Brittanys, horses and birds living at the Brittany Ranch.
From September though January we can be found out hunting our Brittanys on the wild populations of upland birds native to Montana and the surrounding states. The remainder of the year is spent field trialing, showing and training the dogs and raising an occasional litter of puppies.
Conrad and I take pride in the quality of bird dogs we have produced, having learned from years of experience in the field and competitive arenas what it takes to breed and train great bird dogs. We dedicate our time and energy to the continuation of our fine line of Brittanys and the betterment of the breed we dearly love."


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Boys' Shoes
Our wonderful range of boy's shoes will ensure your little one is kitted out for every occasion. From smart shoes to fashionable canvas with top brands including Nike, Converse, Kickers and Hush Puppies. Check out our boy's school shoes for the ultimate in comfort and support and with our great deals you are on to a winner.


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I'm pretty sure I'd fall off that ladder.
From here.
Other Stories
12 comments:
I want it all!ReplyDelete
Sooo...so perfect!ReplyDelete
I have what's verging on a ladder phobia from a dad-built loft bed in my teens.ReplyDelete
Nice to see that ladder is FIXED TO THE WALL, a detail overlooked in the bed.
It went: floor, then me and the ladder on top. Just like a sandwich.
So many times.
Gorgeous! I am no good with ladders either and can see myself falling in slow motion as I type this.ReplyDelete
i'd probably fall off too but i'd love to have that ladder in my home!ReplyDelete
this is too perfect! xReplyDelete
I can only sigh!ReplyDelete
Happy weekend!
Don't forget to enter this giveaway!
I want to live there.ReplyDelete
oh these are such wonderful finds... you always seem to find these cool places i would love to live as well!!! and yes, those stairs might be a problem for me too! hugs, twiggsReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 18, 2011
Any information on those couches? Thanks!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


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Summer is the time for picnics, barbecues and outdoor cooking. Unfortunately, it is also a time when more people fall ill from food poisoning due to warm temperatures and unsafe storing and handling of perishable foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some foodborne illnesses have increased by 75 percent since the agency conducted its last survey less than a decade ago.
The CDC estimates that every year about one in six Americans (or 48 million) get sick from eating spoiled food items; 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from food-related diseases. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable.
While the number of salmonella cases, the most common foodborne illness, has actually slightly dropped in recent years, vibrio infections or vibriosis from uncooked seafood like raw oysters and sushi have become much more widespread, possibly due to the growing popularity of these fares.
Attributing any illness to certain foods is complicated, experts say, simply because there are thousands of different edibles we consume in many varieties and combinations even in a single meal. Therefore, in most cases, it is difficult if not impossible to identify what particular food is responsible for someone to get sick, says the CDC.
However, individual food items can be categorized in different groups, which can help investigate the origins of outbreaks, alert consumers, and draft better food safety regulations, according to the agency. For this, it has developed a list of 17 categories, also called commodities, based on the nature of the food source in question. In every outbreak analysis, scientists try to determine in hierarchical order whether the source came from livestock or livestock products, seafood, or plant-foods.
The best approach to limiting food poisoning occurrences, of course, is prevention through careful storage and handling. The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that people thoroughly wash their hands before and after touching food, especially raw animal products like meat, fish, and poultry. The same goes for the utensils and cooking ware that are used to prepare them.
Proper refrigeration of perishable foods – such as all uncooked or undercooked meat and seafood as well as eggs and dairy products – is equally as important. Leaving these items exposed to warm temperatures for too long, whether on route from the grocery store or during preparations, can cause spoilage that may not be immediately noticeable but can still have negative consequences. Experts recommend never to consume foods you are not certain about in terms of freshness or time of expiration. Do not hesitate to discard anything that looks or smells suspicious, or you know has been stored unsafely. Your and your loved ones wellbeing is not worth the risk.
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Timi Gustafson R.D. is a registered dietitian, newspaper columnist, blogger and author of the book "The Healthy Diner – How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun"®, which is available on her blog and at amazon.com. For more articles on nutrition, health and lifestyle, visit her blog, "Food and Health with Timi Gustafson R.D." (www.timigustafson.com).


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3 killed in 1-vehicle crash in Dane County identified
Stoughton man, Sun Prairie woman and Beaver Dam man died at the scene
TOWN OF DUNN, Wis. — Authorities released the names of the three people killed in an early-morning crash near Stoughton.
On Friday evening, the Dane County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victims as 44-year-old Darin Carley of Stoughton, 39-year-old Rebecca Carstens of Sun Prairie, and 44-year-old Steven Leslie of Beaver Dam.
The Dane County medical examiner's office says preliminary autopsy results indicate alcohol may have contributed to the crash.
Investigators said the car was southbound on Highway 51, veered into the right ditch, over corrected and crossed into the opposite ditch, went down an embankment and struck two trees in the Town of Dunn about 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Carley and Leslie were ejected, and Carstens was pinned in the back seat, according to sheriff's deputies.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene. They were the only people in the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
None of the victims wore seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.3 killed in 1-vehicle crash in Dane County


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After weeks of uncertainty, bluffing and posturing in Washington D.C., the Senate voted in the early hours of Tuesday morning to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and spending cuts. However, the fiscal bargaining is far from over and more budget drama is likely on the way.
Drew Angerer / Getty Images
The Capitol dome illuminates at dusk on Capitol Hill on Dec. 31, 2012 in Washington, DC.
The deal brokered by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky would raise income taxes on single earners with annual incomes above $400,000 and married couples with incomes above $450,000.
The measure will now be turned over to the House, which needs to give its backing and will hold a session on Tuesday starting at noon.
House Speaker John Boehner -- the top Republican in Congress -- said the House would consider the Senate deal. But he left open the possibility of the House amending the Senate bill, which would spark another round of legislating.
"The House will honor its commitment to consider the Senate agreement if it is passed. Decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members ... have been able to review the legislation," Boehner and other House Republican leaders said in a statement.
Next big fight
Although the Senate agreed at the last minute to avert broader tax increases, the very idea of a "deadline" has lost some of its meaning since each budget deal seems to be merely a prelude to another fixed date when some critically important action must be taken – next up: Congress will have to decide what to do about the "sequester" spending cuts which will come up again in February, as well as decide in March on whether to increase the federal borrowing limit.
In a frantic rush of negotiations on New Year's Eve, the Senate moved the nation away from the fiscal cliff, voting on a compromise package that increases tax rates on those making above $400,000 a year. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports and NBC political director Chuck Todd offers analysis.
Congress is also set to embark on fundamental tax reform legislation in the New Year – as Obama himself seemed to acknowledge Monday when he said he's intent on "doing some more work to reform our tax code so that wealthy individuals, the biggest corporations can't take advantage of loopholes and deductions… that aren't available to most Americans. So there's still more work to be done in the tax code to make it fair…."
The indecision over taxes, spending, and borrowing has become chronic, in part a reflection of the fact that neither party controls both the executive and legislative branches. Ever since the Republicans won the House in 2010, the intermittent rounds of bargaining between GOP congressional leaders and Obama have run aground over the fundamentals: the future cost of the entitlement programs -- especially Medicare -- and who should bear the burden of paying for their growth.
The two sides' clashing definitions of "fairness" make it hard for them to decide who should be paying a bigger tax bill.
And while tax revenues have been increasing – they're up 10 percent in the first two months of fiscal year 2013 even under the current tax law -- the increase, even if it is sustained, won't be enough to pay for future benefits that have been promised.
On the spending side, the growth in entitlement spending is largely driven by the demographics of an aging population. The ratio of tax-paying workers to retired beneficiaries was 3.3 workers for every beneficiary during Bill Clinton's presidency, but it has been steadily sinking and will drop to 2-to-1 by 2030.
As 2013 nears, Congress runs out of time to negotiate a deal to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
The gap between what members of Congress profess to want to do (reduce future budget deficits and borrowing) and what they are actually willing to do is growing ever wider and more glaring, since spending curbs would fall on people who feel they have earned certain Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Failure to reach agreement on these basics is what led to the fiscal cliff that Congress and Obama face.
Domestic spending in the cross-hairs
As part of an accord with GOP leaders last year to raise the government's borrowing limit, Obama signed the Budget Control Act. The law requires about $100 billion in spending reductions in 2013, out of a total of roughly $3.5 trillion in spending.
While an approximately 3 percent cut in spending might not seem drastic, the Budget Control Act exempts most entitlement spending from the cuts, so the reductions would be concentrated on military outlays and domestic discretionary spending programs ranging from air traffic control to immigration enforcement.
NBC's Chuck Todd explains that a fiscal cliff deal has been difficult to reach because President Obama and Speaker Boehner don't want to appear to be caving to the other.
Senate approves deal to avert fiscal cliff; vote goes to House
The law would make reductions – unless Congress delays or rescinds them – of about 10 percent in discretionary appropriations for defense programs and about 8 percent in non-defense programs in 2013.
If members of Congress seriously want deficit reduction, the Budget Control Act is certainly one way to get it: the Congressional Budget Office estimates that spending would actually go down. Federal spending would be a smaller share of national income in 2022 under the Budget Control Act (22.3 percent of gross domestic product) than they were in FY2012 (22.9 percent). And the budget deficit would fall from 7 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2012 to less than 1 percent of GDP by 2017.
Despite the impressive deficit reduction that would be achieved by going over the fiscal cliff, the members of Congress who have sought to avoid the fiscal cliff think the economy is too weak to tolerate the tighter fiscal policy that many of them voted for in 2011. Undoing the tax increases and spending cuts would boost economic growth by about 2¼ percent by the end of 2013, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
With many of the details of the agreement or a more far-reaching accord still up in the air, there are some benchmarks to judge the deal that may emerge:
- Does it last only one year or more than one year?
- Would it significantly reduce future budget deficits?
- Would it reduce federal debt, measured as a percentage of the nation's income?
- Are its spending provisions enforceable and credible – or are they hazy promises that may not be carried out by future Congresses, by Obama, and by the next president?
- If the primary goal is deficit and debt reduction, is the agreement better or worse than the Budget Control Act?
- Is it likely to spur economic growth and will it do anything to address the chronic problem of the 23 million unemployed?
Reuters contributed to this report.


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Most North American skiers would like to forget the winter of 2012. The folks at Fernie never will. A mid-January storm dropped five feet in 30 hours; another in late February brought 35 inches in one night. When they finally—and sadly—shuttered the lifts in April, the tally was 480 inches for the year. Compared to snow totals across the continent, those numbers were extraordinary. But compared to Fernie's own track record, the stats were typical. The easternmost resort on Canada's famed Powder Highway averages 468 inches annually, most of that from Pacific-born storms that wring out their moisture over the Coast Range, Monashees, and Selkirks before depositing dry fluff on the Kootenays. Snowfall trends alone are enough to make you wonder how this place has flown under the radar for so long. It's even more puzzling when you get a glimpse of the terrain.
Five high-alpine bowls, crowned by an extreme-comp-worthy cliff band, empty into tightly packed cedar glades and challenging intermediate trails. Originally built as a diversion for coal miners, the ski hill remains the heart of the Fernie community, with a picturesque vintage mining town at its feet. "People say to me all the time, 'You must have seen so many changes here,'" says Robin Siggers, a 35-year local and mountain operations manager. "Well, not so much. Change here happens at a very controlled pace."
Photo: Henry Georgi
That's not to say it isn't getting better with time. Last season, the resort installed a new high-speed quad to the top of 7,000-foot Polar Peak. Were you to look straight down on it from above, Polar Peak would resemble a Phillips-head screwdriver with steep chutes spilling off in four directions. The new lift eases access to extreme terrain previously reachable only via a long, steep hike up the Currie Headwall. Anywhere else, that kind of expansion would elicit harsh criticism and resistance from selfish locals and long-timers. "There was no resistance," says Andy Cohen, Fernie's general manager. Around the mountain and in town, you get a sense that Fernie's 5,000 residents truly embrace one another and welcome guests. "People want to share the raw experience here. It's not about 'Ah, everyone's going to poach my lines,' it's about 'Wow, I get to share this great place with everyone.'"
SLEEP » The Lizard Creek Lodge is 47 steps from the chairlift. Yes, we counted. The ski-in, ski-out condo-hotel has a restaurant, spa, and fitness center. lizardcreek.com
EAT » Fernie is the last place you'd expect to find a chic and ultramodern tapas restaurant like Picnic Restaurant & Social. Order the Full Basket, an assortment of artisanal cheeses, roasted olives, inventive dips, preserves, and charcuterie perfect for—what else?—sharing.
DRINK » Naked table sliding—in which participants body-surf a 25-foot-long, beer-lubed community table—is an après tradition at the legendary Griz Bar.


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Situated in a prime location for daytime shoppers and post-meal diners, the Gelato Factory on Jalan Oberoi is a small, funky parlour that makes for a great pitstop on your walk around town. Sample a few of their unique flavors like pistachio and biscottino or go classic with a rich dark chocolate and their creamy stracciatella. Hours: 8:00 am – 11:00 pm